What to do at a port on a SUPER BUDGET?

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Mary L

Unless the ship is put at a dock too far to walk to the main shopping area, in which case you will need a taxi, you really don't have to spend any money at all. Shore excursions are OK in those ports, but you can have a lovely day just being a tourist and looking at everything! You might want to pick up a soda to drink while you are strolling around, and perhaps a post card or two. Of course, you can go crazy and spend lots and lots of money on goodies, but you certainly don't need to do that! As for a neat "souvenir" from your trip, I suggest that you save the copies of the "daily program" you will get in your cabin and put them in a folder when you get home! On the last night in the dining room the waiters often give you copies of the evening menus during your cruise, but that's not automatic, so on the first night, ask the waiter! The menus are printed with dates and not re-used, so it's a simple matter to have them, too. With the daily programs and menus you will have something very like a diary, which you will be able to enjoy later at home. By the way, many ships sell a "soda card" for unlimited soft drinks on board for the duration of the cruise, but you should take a look at the price, divide it by the number of days you will be on board, and think about how much soda you really drink. On some ships it's a bargain, and on others is not! Every soda and alcoholic drink, every massage or spa treatment, every shore excursion, and everything you purchase in the shops on board will be listed on an invoice you will receive the last night of your cruise, and that can really add up, so think about things carefully! They always take lots of photos on board -- when you arrive, at dining tables, etc. -- some of which are nice and some simply awful. You are under no obligation to purchase them.

I've been on cruises to all the ports you mention, and have had wonderful days just poking around! Sometimes I've been on cruises when I've been close to broke, and on others haven't needed to think about spending at all, and have always had great trips!

Dave Holman

San Juan is easy. Take a walk around Old San Juan. Go to El Morro and San Cristobal. Tour the oldest Catholic Church in the Americas. You can actually walk around the entire walled city, and then, if you have time left, there is a great square in the middle of the Old City, where you can just hang out and watch the people. There are also a lot of interesting shops, that are worth checking out, even if you aren't buying anything. The Butterfly People is a very cool gallery. They mount real butterfly's in plexiglass, ranging from one in a 6" square to hundreds of them in giant wallpieces. There is a cigar store/factory right where the ships dock, where you can watch really old Cuban guys hand-rolling cigars, stuff like that.
St. Thomas is basically a giant shopping center - so you are pretty much limited to looking at all the tourist junk for sale, or going to the beach.
St. Marteen has some great beaches, so that's probably your best bet there.

EDIT: Not sure what line Tinkertoy has been on, or what line you are going on, but there are two cruise ship facilities,and one of them IS right there in Old San Juan, less than 100 yards.

barbamatt

Go to the beach. Most beaches are free. You can also see if the ship has any tours offered. Next best thing is walk around and sight see. Try to find museums or historical landmarks in the area. The Caribbean is a great place. I love the water. Most beaches are free. Sometimes you can go snorkeling and see the water life.

San Juan is awesome. Go to Fort San Cristobal (El Morro) in San Juan. It is free (or it was when I went) and it is really cool. You can see an old and intact fort from the Spanish colonization era. It is really worth it and you get a great view of the island.

Sometimes there are vendors that have small things that don't cost a lot and you can sample local food for cheap.

**I was never on a cruise ship, but I was in the Navy and the Navy pulls into ports all the time. Usually I didn't have a lot of money at those ports.

TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

OK, first off I HAVE been to all of those places multiple times so this is based on my experiences.

In San Juan about the cheapest thing to do is take a city tour that would include the Old San Juan fort (San Cristobal) and a walk through the old city. The pier in San Juan is a very long walk from the fort and city. Its not like you can just walk off the ship and you are right there. You will probably want/need a taxi.

St Thomas has all of the shopping you could want right at the port. But if you want to go to a beach or into town its going to cost about $10 per person each way, depending upon which beach you go to. But its much cheaper to take a taxi to a beach, like Megan Bay, than to pay for a tour from the ship. So do go on your own and there will be plenty of taxis right outside the cruise terminal.

In St Marteen you can do a beach right beside the town for free. It may not be the prettiest and most exciting. But when you dock you walk right down the pier and take the water taxi to the dock in town and then there's shopping there and/or you can just relay on the beach and get in the water. If I recall you can also walk into town from the pier; its about a mile or mile & a half walk.

MomSezNo

I think I already suggested this to you, but you can go to CruiseCritic.com, click on "Boards", then go to "Ports of Call". If you don't find something you like there, then I guess you're out of luck. That board has the best info on cruising there is. There's also a topic on "Money Saving Tips" that's great.

In San Juan, you can talk a walk around Old San Juan, up to El Morro.

In St. Thomas, you're going to have to spend some money on a taxi or public bus in order to do anything but shopping at the port. [Don't use the taxis inside the gates of the cruise port - go outside the gates for cheaper cabs and the public bus.] You can get a cab to take you to one of the beaches, but they're not real close to the pier [unless you dock at the new pier, i.e. not at Havensight]. There are lots of recommendations at the CC board.

Haven't been to St. Martin yet [soon!] so I don't know from experience, but I'm going to rely on the people at CC to find something interesting and less-expensive to do.

BTW - Going out on your own, you need to make sure you get back to the ship on time, because they'll leave without you if you're late. You'll want to make sure you take the info from your daily activity sheet that give the number of the agent on shore, along with your passport, just in case.

babbles

bring your own snorkel equipment and take a taxi to a beach. Have a few bucks for tip, and the taxi driver will know what beach is best for you and will pick you up too. That's what we do on the islands, and it's awesome. Just don't touch the coral (you'll kill the fish's food) and the ship will pack you a lunch to go, just ask them the day ahead of time. Bring your own towell. You won't go broke and it'll be an inexpensive and fun fun time.

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